WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.—Before Tuesday’s ride swap with Lewis Hamilton, there was a section of the Watkins Glen International road course Stewart had never seen, the .95-mile boot-shaped section called—you guessed it—the “boot.”

After racing on it in both a Sprint Cup and a Formula One car, Stewart would like to see NASCAR incorporate the boot into its August Cup race here.

“I enjoyed the long course,” Stewart said. “I’d never been around it till today. I told (NASCAR executive and pace car driver) Brett Bodine when we got out of the car after our setup runs that I would like the opportunity to see us having a shot at running the long course.

“I think it would create more passing opportunities, for sure, and it’s just such a historic racetrack, and there are some really cool corners down there that we don’t get a shot to run on a Cup weekend.”

Five-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said much the same thing after running a Grand-Am race at the Glen last year. Armed with the endorsements of Stewart and Johnson, WGI president Michael Printup plans to lobby NASCAR president Mike Helton, vice president of competition Robin Pemberton and senior vice president of racing operations Steve O’Donnell about running the full course.

“By tomorrow morning, I’ll have a message in to Mr. Helton and Mr. Pemberton and Mr. O’Donnell,” Printup said. “I’ve asked them over and over again, and I think this was just the real live testimonial that it can happen.

“Our races are becoming shorter now (in duration), because we’ve paved all the gravel traps, and we’ve taken out a lot of the mishaps and (loss) of track time. Now we just have to pave (Turn) 8, which is down in the heel of the boot, and I think we could have some great racing.”

The tradeoff would be a reduction in the number of laps on a longer course.

“Like Tony and I were talking after the event (Tuesday), it’s just going to give us a lot more opportunity to pass,” Printup said. “I think that would make it more exciting for the fans, and it opens up another major section where fans love to view racing.

“I’m going to cross my fingers and work on NASCAR next.”

Those who intentionally live off another’s labor will always want more free stuff!

ok i need to ask this, he threw a fit at pocono cuz his tranny went boom and blamed nascar cuz they hadda shift, now he wants to open a section where more shifting is involved, i never understand a drivers logic, btw im not attacking tony, just dont get it...................

michaeljohn wrote:ok i need to ask this, he threw a fit at pocono cuz his tranny went boom and blamed nascar cuz they hadda shift, now he wants to open a section where more shifting is involved, i never understand a drivers logic, btw im not attacking tony, just dont get it...................

...like HH's question below, they DO use different "beefed up" transmissions on road courses. Don't think it was Tony's fault since he and Ryan lost the EXACT same gear at relatively the same time...and since Smoke's the "Road Course King".

The rest was just frustration, he'd just passed JJ for 5th when the gear went...and so went ANOTHER top 5 finish. He was just poppin' off...can't say that I blame him, I turned it off as soon as he radioed in.

michaeljohn wrote:ok i need to ask this, he threw a fit at pocono cuz his tranny went boom and blamed nascar cuz they hadda shift, now he wants to open a section where more shifting is involved, i never understand a drivers logic, btw im not attacking tony, just dont get it...................

...like HH's question below, they DO use different "beefed up" transmissions on road courses. Don't think it was Tony's fault since he and Ryan lost the EXACT same gear at relatively the same time...and since Smoke's the "Road Course King".

The rest was just frustration, he'd just passed JJ for 5th when the gear went...and so went ANOTHER top 5 finish. He was just poppin' off...can't say that I blame him, I turned it off as soon as he radioed in.

Thanks for the answer to my question... I thought the transmissions were different, but wasn't sure.

What I was getting at, is maybe the teams will have to re-think which transmissions they run at Pocono from now on.

And yes, NascarNana, it is very difficult to keep an eye on your driver at all times (impossible actually) on a road course, when you're in the stands. I just kept an eye on the leaderboard at the track...and an ear open for the announcer.

I dont think it is so much the tranny, but the gear ratios. Pocono they basically were using 3 gears & an over drive (which would put more stress on 3rd gear) basically using 3rd gear as they normally would a 4th gear.

Road courses the gear ratios are used as 4 gears (no overdrive)

Pocono 3rd & 4th gear had to be so close to each other, which would put more stress on 3rd than any other track they go too. Tranny wasnt the problem the gear was. They will either expand the difference between 3rd & 4th, to take some stress from 3rd or the teams will be less aggressive on 3rd (sacrificing speed) or just not shift til late in the race. (Like Gordon claimed he did)